Roundabout.



PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

H. S. MAXIM.

ROUNDABOUT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1 7 n j K f 5 0? 1 Eve for luunv; Wzadraira N6; 831,366. V PATENTEDSEPT. 18, 1906.

H. s. MAXIM.

ROUNDABOUT.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..14, 1905.

g Y 5 1.. ./I..

a 1 I W 0 o o o a a2 a! 20152 7260; 66/ .vlkazlgfan .No. 831,366.PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906. H. S. MAXIM. ROUNDABOUT.

APPLICATION IFILBD M AR.14,1905.

' s sums-sums.

Jim

rmrrE s ra ts PATENT @FFTQEQ Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept, 18, race.

Application fil d March 14, 1905., Serial No. 250,074.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, chevalier of the Legion ofHonor,

civil, mechanical, and electrical engineer, a

subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Thurlow Lodge, Norwood .Road, West N orwood, in the county of Surrey, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Roundabouts, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to roundabouts and similar contrivances forpublic. recreation, and has reference more particularly to the kind ofcontrivance or roundabout I have already devised and set forth in thespecification of my prior United States patent, No.

804,147, dated November7, 1905, in which there is a central rotary shaftdriven by an appropriate motor or motors and having at or near its upperend a series of radial arms, from the free ends 'of which cars aresuspended, so as to be able to move outward under centrifugal force whenthe shaft revolves.

In order to cause the cars to perform peculiar evolutions during theirtravel around theaxis of the rotary shaft, I have already proposed toprovide them with movable aero' planes or to permanently arrange therotary shaft at an angle. According to my present invention I obtainthesepeculiar evolutions 'by so arranging the rotary shaft that at thecommencement of rotation of the cars it will occupy a vertical orapproximately vertical position; but while the cars are still travelingand after they have been swung outward. to a suitable'extent the saidshaft will be gradually tilted or shifted into an inclined position andthen will be subsequently restored to its vertical or approximatelyvertical position before the cars are brought to rest.

In order thatmy said invention may be clearly understo od and readilycarried into effect, I will describe the same more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a general elevationof the improved roundabout. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section takenapproximately on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 isa side elevation, Fig. 4 a plan, and Fig. 5 a cross-section, on the line'2. 2,showing the lower portion of the roundabout and the means employedfor shifting the rotary shaft 55, from the vertical to the inclined.position, and

. vice versa, Fig.

5 being drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 6 is a sideelevation, on a larger scale,showing the position of the rotary shaftand the' bearing about which it tilts or turns in moving to and from itsvertical position.

tion on the line 3 3 of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a plan of thetrunnion-ring which is secured to said rotary shaft.

A isthe central rotary shaft.

B B, are the suspended cars, of which there may be any appropriatenumber, and C is a circular landing-stage. [As in my previousconstructions of this kind of apparatus, I make the shaft A of mildsteel in several tubular sections or lengths, bolted together orotherwise firmly secured together at their ends, the sections at theupper partof the said shaft gradually diminishing in-dia'meter. Thelower end of the shaft is also, as heretofore, provided with a flange0', Fig. 5, to which is bolted or otherwise connected a spur-'wheela/and a flanged foot-step aof cast-steel, which is carried in a foot-stepbearing d, mounted in a base-plate. (2, formin part of a .trolley D.

Fig. 7 is a verticalse'cis an upright structure or tower which its upperend bearings e for the reception of trunnions a a on the shaft to permitof its swiveling or tilting in a. vertical plane. The said structure isbuilt up of four upright beams e, tiedto'gether transversely at suitableintervals by iron plates e e which are connected with said uprights byclips 6 at the outer corners of said L,plates.. These plates are alsojoined together at the side remote from that in which the rotary shaftmoves in turning about its trunnions by' plates 0 riveted thereto, Fig.2. A lateral opening 6 is thus left in the structure for the rotaryshaft to pass through in performin its swinging or tilting movements.The sai structure is furthermore strengthened by tierods 6 e on thethree sides 112 yr. On the side to the rods e are omitted, and the rods6 connect together the points'e e and b b not e V, as on the three sides:20 y z. Rigidly secured to the shaft A is a steel hub A, having socketsfrom which radiate the series of suspension-arms A which are preferablymade of steel tubes. The outer ends of said tubular radial arms areconnected together by chordal stay-rods A and are also connected with aflange A at the upper end of ,the rotary shaft by stay-rods A The saidtubular 'radial arms are furthermore conis made rather wide at the baseand carries at v C while the rotary nected' together near their middleby chordal stay-rods A and also with a flan 'e A on the rotary shaft bystay-rods A T is aforesaid trunnions (i a are formed on a divided ringor bushing a (see Figs 6, 7, and 8,) which has flanges for the receptionof bolts a, so that the divided ring or bushing may be bolted togetheraround the shaft after the flanges A and A have been riveted in positionon the adjacent ends of the shaft. The said trunnions arecarried in thebearings e, which are carried bya plate or block 6, that is situated atthe upper end of the structure E. Situated within turned recesses in theaforesaid divided ring or bushing are. divided rings w", surrounding therotary shaft and constituting bearing-surfaces for the shaft to revolvewithin, the weight of the shaft and parts earried thereby beingsupported by the foot-step bearing d, which is carried by the trolley D,as aforesaid.

The trolley D has four or other appropriate number of wheels d adaptedto travel on suitable rails or guideways f, carried by a structure F,the said rails being curved to correspond with an arc struck from theaxis of the aforesaid trunnions. This trolley is adapted to be shiftedon its rails or guideways by a windlass F, worked by an electric motor Fand in that way the rotary shaft is swung or. tilted about caused toassume itsinclined position. The motive power for actuating the gearingfor revolving the shaft is preferably electric, in which case anelectric motor D is mounted on said trolley D and drives the spur-wheela of the shaft through suitable speed-reducing gearing D The electriccurrent is supplied to the windlass-motor F from a sec ondary battery orother source of electricsupply G through a controlling-switch G, and thecurrent for workingthe motor D is supplied with current from the samesource of supply through a switch D these two switches being preferablyarranged to be operated from the trolley D. The said switches may,however, be situated at some stationary point outside the apparatus.

, The structure F, carrying theguide-rails, is built up of strong woodenbeams, and the rails may be curved upwardly at their ends to act asstops for limiting the extent of movement of the trolley in eitherdirection. The outer end of said structure has a guide pulleyf, overwhich a wire ropef connected with the trolley, passes to thewindingdrum'f of. the windlass F. Instead'of operating the trolley byelectric motors I may employ a hydraulic ram or any other ap propriatekind of actuating machinery.

With the contrivance or roundabout constructed as above stated thepassengers enter the cars from the platform or lz'mding-stage shaft 'isin its vertical position, as shown by ted line in Fig; 1.

.of the roundabout.

its trunnions .and-

above the full lines in Fig. 1. The.

landing-stage or platform C is in theexample illustrated situated on theground, and is pro teet'ed by a guard-rail c, Fig. 1, as in my previousarrangements. After the passengers haveentered the cars the shaft isset. into iuotionby the motor D, and when the cars in traveling in theircircular course have moved outwardly under centrifugal force to thedesired extent the trolley is shifted later-' ally by the motor F andwindlass F to bring thelower end of the shaft out of the vertical to therequisite extent, asshown by the dot- Then after the cars have beenpermitted to revolve the desired length of time in' their new course,due to this inclined position of the'shaft, the said trolley ispermitted to return to'its original position by the action of gravityand the shaft thereby restored to the vertical prior to thestoppage Thecars are then fermitted to descend inwardly as their spee" diminishe'sand finally come to rest. at the platform C to enable the passengers toalight, as in my previous arrangements.

By constructing the contrivance as above stated the cars will in theirtravel and while the shaft is in its inclined position be caused toapparently descend and remount a steep hill without the least shock, andif the con trivance be erected in proximity to or in a lake the cars canbe caused in their descent tov plunge into or graze the surface of thewater as they reach the lowermost point in the circumference of theinclined circular path in which they travel.

In order to meet the improbable case of the motors or driving-gearbecoming unexpectedly ineffective during their working, and therebystopping the revolution of the. rotary shaft with undesirablesuddenness, 1 couple the lower part of the shaft to the spurwheel a bywooden pins a, Fig. 5, that in the event of the shaft being subjected toan extraordinary stress, such as that which would arise under theabove-stated circumstances, will become severed or sheared, and therebyautomatically rendcrithe shaft so' far as its revolution is concernedindependent of the driving-gear, thuspermitting the cars to con tinuetheir course independently of the driv ing-gear and gradually come torest.

it will of course be obvious that the platform C, from which thepassengers enter the cars, may be elevated any suitable distance monts,instead of being situated directly on, the ground, as represented in thedrawings.

What I claim, and desire'to secure by Lettors Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. In a roundabout, the combination with an upright rotary shaft, radialarms carried thereby, ears freely suspended from said ground, as 1n myprevious arrangearms and means fordriving se id rotary shnl't of afoot-step bearii'ig for said rotary shaft a movable base or trolleysupporting the foot fortilting the shaft during its revolution for thepurpose s ecified.

2. In a rouiidabout, the combination with an upright rotary shaft,radial arms carried thereby, cars freely suspended from said armsandfmeans for driving said rotary shaft; of afoot-step bearin for saidrotary shaft a movable base or trol ey supporting the foot- .stepbearing and the driving-gear of said shaft, horizontal trunnions on saidshaft fixed bearings for said trunnions and means for shifting thetrolley to and fro -alon a stationary curvilinear path for tilting tieshaft about the horizontal trunnions during its revolution for thepurpose specified.

3.' In a roundabout, thecombination with an upright rotary shaft, radialarms carried thereby, cars freely suspended from said arms and means fordriving said rotary shaft; of a foot-step bearinlgfor said rotary shafta movablebase or tro ey supporting the footstep bearing and thedriving-gear of said shaft, an upright structure, bearings at theupper'end of such structure, trunnionson the rotary shaft supported bysaid bearings 7 means for-shifting the trolley to and fro ailo ng astationary curvilinear path for tilting the shaft about saidtrunnion-bearin s during its revolution substantially as and or thepurpose specified.

4. In a roundabout, the combination with an upright rotary shaft,radial'arms carried thereby, cars freely suspended from said arms andmeans for driving said rotary shaft;

of a foot-step bearin for said rotary shaft a.

movable base or trol ey supporting the footstep bearing and thedriving-gear of said shaft, an upright structure open at one side andwithin which the shaft revolves when in its vertical position, bearingsat the upper end of said structpre, trunnions on the rotary shaftsupported byfsaidbearings, and means for shiftmg the trolley to and froin a stationary curvilinear course for tilting the shaft about saidtrunnion-bearings during its revolution substantially as and for thepurpose specified. v

5. In aroundabout, the combination with an upright rotary shaft, .radialarms carried thereby, cars freely suspended from said arms and means fordriving said rotary shaft; of a foot-step bearing for said rotary shafta movable base or trolley supporting the footstep bearing and thedriving-gear of the said shaft, an upright structure open at one side,and within which the shaft revolves when in nion-bearings internalbearing-surfaces within said ring for the shaft to revolve against, anda Windlass for shifting the said trolley in a stationary curvilinearcourse struck from the axis of the trunnions substantially as and forthe purpose s' ecified.

6. In a rounda out, the combination w th an upright rotary shaft, radialarms carried thereby, ears freely suspended from said arms anddriving-gear for said rotary shaft; of afoot-step bearing for saidrotary shaft, a movable base or trolley supporting the footstep bearingand the driving-gear of said shaft means for shifting said trolley toand fro for tiltin the shaft during its revolution, and means 'orautomatically rendering the rotary shaft independent of its driving-gearin the event of the latter becoming suddenly stopped substantially asdescribed.

7. In a roundabout, the combination with an upright rotary shaft, radialarms'carried its vertical position, trunnion-bearings at the.

upper end' of said structure, a divided ring embracing the sliaftgtrunnions formed en-*- said divided ring and carried by said tr u11nion-bearings, internal bearing-surfaces within said.ring for the shaftto revolve against, stationary curved rails struck from the axis of thetrunnions, wheels on the trolle run ning on said curved rails, stops forlimitingthe extent of the trolleys movement on said rails, and awindlass'for moving said trolley on the rails, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

8. In a roundabout, the combination with an uprightrotary shaft, radialarms carried thereby, cars freely suspended from sald arms, anddriving-gear from said rotary. shaft; of a foot-step bearing forsaidrotary" shaft, a movable base or trolley supporting the foot-stepbearing and the drivin -gear of said shaft, a gear-wheel situated at thelower end of said shaft and engaging with said driving-gear, shear-pinsconnecting said gearwheel with said shaft, and means for shifting saidtrolley to and fro for tilting the shaft during its revolution,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in' presence of twosubscribing witnesses, this 21st day of February, 1905.

HIRAM STEI'ENS MAXIM.

Witnesses T; SELBY WARDLE. 'WALTER J. SKERTEN.

